How Light Can You Go? 3 Ways to Push the Boundaries of Automotive and Aerospace Lightweighting

Fuel economy is a hot topic for both manufacturers and consumers. In the automotive market, countries all over the world are implementing more stringent fuel consumption standards for passenger cars and light trucks. Specifically in the United States, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations aim to reach a fuel efficiency of 54.5 mpg for passenger vehicles by 2025. However, the latest reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show the current fuel economy for cars stands at 28.5 mpg, so the urgency for innovation is real and ever present. The aerospace industry also holds similar goals for improving fuel efficiency. As the cost of labor and other operating expenses continues to rise for U.S. passenger airlines, lowering fuel costs has one of the most significant impacts on growing profitability and staying competitive.